It's time to get prepared. Microsoft are ending support for Windows 10 on the 14th of October, 2025, and support for SOLIDWORKS software installed on Windows 10 will come to an end on this date. So what does this mean for users of SOLIDWORKS? Well, you have two main options. Upgrade to Windows 11 or continue using SOLIDWORKS with an unsupported operating system. Upgrading to Windows 11 offers enhanced security, compatibility with modern hardware, and access to new features, ensuring your system remains supported. Alternatively, staying on Windows 10 will require businesses to pay Microsoft for critical security updates, costing hundreds of pounds per PC over the course of three years for extended security patches. Even paying these extra fees will not extend to software support, just critical security patches from Microsoft. To prepare for this change SOLIDWORKS users should check their software specification. SOLIDWORKS 2022 Service Pack two and newer versions are compatible with Windows 11. Subscription and Active term license holders can upgrade to the latest SOLIDWORKS release immediately. If you aren't on support, please contact us for further options. Since Windows 11 is regularly updated and new security threats emerge, it's advisable to keep SOLIDWORKS a recent release. The product support lifecycle means each major release receives one year service packs and an additional year of hotfix support for critical issues. This ensures that you can receive fixes for issues that arise and security patches that minimize risk and ensure compliance with industry certifications. For SOLIDWORKS PDM uses its essential to upgrade server components alongside client machines. SOLIDWORKS 2025 will be the final version supporting Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019. Details about SOLIDWORKS product lifecycle and system requirements can be found on the official SOLIDWORKS website. For those using Windows 10. It's vital to confirm whether their PC supports Windows 11. Microsoft's PC health checker can be used to verify compatibility. Systems must have a supported modern CPU, the oldest supported being Intel's eighth generation 2018 or AMD's Zen two 2019, and a motherboard that supports TPM version two security. Even if a machine meets these requirements, we recommend a replacement cycle of 3 to 5 years for optimum CAD performance. So if your system is older than three years, consider if a new machine would be a better option. CAD users being amongst the most demanding uses of PCs often benefit most from an upgrade to improve productivity. Older systems can be repurposed to less demanding tasks within the business or recycled free services like Dell's Asset Recovery program. Newer workstations provide significant performance improvements, with the latest models being up to twice as fast for CAD tasks such as part modeling and large assemblies. Plus, top of the range laptops work within 5 to 10% of desktop performance. Opening up portable options for hybrid and remote work. To assist with this transition, Solid Solutions offer a range of Dell Precision workstations optimized for SOLIDWORKS. We can also assist you by reviewing your current hardware setup to ensure your system is sufficient for your needs and the demands of powerful software. Preparing now will help you avoid disruption, maintain security, and optimize performance for the future. Get in touch with us today via the details on screen.